Thomas Rosenthal Northwestern Mutual Deidra Edwards Outreach Community Health Centers Katie Schultz Eaton Ambassador Guide 201 a guide to running your campaign
Dear United Way Ambassadors, You are essential to the success of our Community Campaign. Without you, we could not provide the critical funds needed to support 160+ programs at more than 80 local agencies. Whether this is your first time as an Ambassador or you are a seasoned veteran, this guide will help you conduct a successful campaign from start to finish. Thank you for leading your organization s United Way campaign and encouraging others to Give, Advocate and Volunteer. When we reach out a hand to one, we influence the condition of all. That s what it means to Live United. Sincerely, 201 Community Campaign Co-chairs Paul Purcell Robert W. Baird & Co. Thelma A. Sias We Energies Scott Wrobbel Deloitte LLP Key Dates Ambassador Training Wednesday, July 30, 12:30 2 p.m. United Way 225 West Vine Street Milwaukee, WI 53212 Wednesday, August 13, Noon 1: 30 p.m. Curative Care Network 1000 North 92nd Street Wauwatosa, WI Thursday, August 28, 12:30 2 p.m. United Way 225 West Vine Street Milwaukee, WI 53212 Tuesday, September 16, 8 9:30 a.m. United Way 225 West Vine Street Milwaukee, WI 53212 Tuesday, October 2, Noon 1:30 p.m. Harry & Rose Samson Family Jewish Community Center 6255 N. Santa Monica Boulevard Whitefish Bay, WI Campaign S.O.S. Webinars Thursday, October 9 11:30 a.m. 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, October 29 11:30 a.m. 12:15 p.m. United Way Ambassadors engage co-workers in building a stronger community by planning, organizing and coordinating a successful United Way Campaign. Ambassador Benefits Career-building skills Networking opportunities Recognition within your organization Expert knowledge of the value of giving to United Way Ambassador Role Work closely with your organization s leadership Work closely with your Loaned Executive Develop an effective campaign plan Recruit a team of volunteers to assist you (if needed) Hold campaign kickoff and recognition events Promote the campaign throughout your organization Encourage leadership giving in your campaign Make your campaign fun Thank your donors and volunteers Loaned Executives Begin August Campaign Kickoff September 3 Season of Caring September December Give & Win Sweepstakes Deadline November 1 Community Celebration December 11 2 UnitedWayMilwaukee.org
Campaign Checklist Use the following checklist to help plan your campaign with your Loaned Executive and/or United Way staff to choose ideas that work best for your organization s culture. Denotes available resources at UnitedWayMilwaukee.org/CampaignToolkit Plan Your Campaign q Attend Ambassador training q Meet with your CEO to confirm his or her commitment q Review the previous campaign s performance, determine opportunities & challenges q Meet with your Loaned Executive to develop campaign goals, strategies & timeline q Visit the online Toolkit for campaign materials & ideas ( Campaign Toolkit) q Set dates for employee meetings & agency tours ( Campaign Requests) q Request materials ( Available Materials) & speakers through your Loaned Executive q Send communications from the CEO endorsing & announcing the campaign ( Sample Communications) q Promote your campaign special events & meetings ( Fundraising Ideas) q Hold a Leadership Giving Campaign ( Leadership Giving Campaign) Start Your Campaign q Hold Kickoff Event with agency or United Way speaker q Launch special events & activities ( Fundraising Ideas) q Make sure every employee receives materials & has an opportunity to give q Publicize interim campaign results, community facts ( Key Messages) & success stories ( Success Stories) Finalize Your Campaign q Collect pledges, calculate results & submit final report envelopes to United Way ( Report Envelope Instructions) q Review campaign results with your team & United Way representative q Announce results to all employees q Thank all contributors with a celebration event, letter or email from your CEO or a visit from a United Way representative q Consider year round activities What is a Loaned Executive? They are area professionals loaned or sponsored by local businesses to help United Way with the annual community campaign. They are here to assist you with: Materials Campaign theme and strategies Organizing agency speakers (or to serve as your speaker) Additional support as needed Leadership Giving Leadership donors come together to create lasting change while building personal, professional and philanthropic networks. In addition to their financial support, leadership donors are volunteers and advocates for positive community change. Leadership Giving Groups include: Leadership Society Jane Bradley Pettit Society Tocqueville Society Women s Leadership Emerging Leaders IT United Learn more at UnitedWayMilwaukee.org/ GivingCommunities Find campaign resources & materials at UnitedWayMilwaukee.org/CampaignToolkit eway: Take Your Campaign Online eway is an online pledging software that allows employees to pledge through a personalized website. You can include your company logo, CEO endorsement letter, photo, incentives and donation instructions. Many companies using eway have experienced increased participation and gifts. Benefits Reduced administrative costs Timely reporting Email communication Confidentiality Automated payroll deduction files Pam Bauman Columbia St. Mary s Learn more at UnitedWayMilwaukee.org/eWay Note: There is a transaction cost associated with the use of this software. UnitedWayMilwaukee.org 3
United Way s Community Impact Giving to United Way s Community Impact Fund or one of United Way s strategic focus areas Education, Income and Health is the most efficient and most powerful way for you to invest in our community. United Way s Community Impact Fund & Special Initiatives Designated to Agency Community needs are assessed and the most critical issues are identified Funding stays local and is based on program performance and overall impact on our community Rigorous program oversight is provided by United Way staff and volunteers year-round Agencies are visited by United Way staff and volunteers to ensure program compliance and progress Quarterly reviews of agencies financials are conducted Opportunity exists to double donations through challenge grant matches sponsored by companies and foundations Donate conveniently through workplace campaign and payroll deduction Donation is distributed directly to nonprofits Trustworthy & Effective washington waukesha ozaukee Milwaukee United Way s Impact Our focus is on Education, Income and Health. United Way advances the common good by creating opportunities for a better life for all. United Way also invests in our community through special grants and initiatives. United Way impacts 1 in people each year throughout Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Waukesha Counties. At United Way of Greater Milwaukee, we invest in programs that produce results at agencies that manage their money wisely. We have been recognized nationally and locally for our high rate of efficiency, and consistently receive a four-star rating by Charity Navigator its highest ranking. Nearly 90 cents of every dollar raised is invested into our community. UnitedWayMilwaukee.org
Your Community Impact Your gift, no matter what size, makes a difference. Plus, the dollars you donate to United Way stay right here in our community. For the cost of everyday items and activities, you can provide urgent and life-changing resources that impact 1 in people throughout the Greater Milwaukee area. One music download a week for a year $1/week Supplies for 12 teens participating in an eight-week pregnancy prevention program One weekly bus pass for three adults to attend education programs One hand-held magnifier for an individual with low vision One coffee a week for a year $2/week One crib for an infant living in a shelter Preparation class and fees for one GED student One month s worth of fresh produce for 10 families Eating out for lunch once a week for a year $5/week Blankets for 0 disaster victims Workbooks for 25 families attending financial literacy classes Three beds for a family who previously experienced homelessness A New ipad $10/week Bus passes for 25 individuals with low-income to attend interviews and appointments A hot meal for 86 men living in a shelter One semester paid internship for two college students A flat-screen TV $20/week Twelve hours of case management for individuals with disabilities or mental illness Thirty weeks of home instruction for two families to prepare preschoolers for kindergarten Attendance to a 10-week summer day camp for one child For more on what your gift can do go to UnitedWayMilwaukee.org/ImpactCalculator UnitedWayMilwaukee.org 5
Tips for a Successful Campaign MRA s Bring Your Dog to Work Day Get Donors Interested: 78% of people are more likely to give a financial donation if they first have a positive engagement experience. Share the story: Educate your employees by inviting an agency speaker to share a story about the positive impact that donor dollars have on our community. Contact your Loaned Executive or United Way staff to schedule a speaker. See impact in action: Experience how important United Way-funded programs are to the community by touring an agency. ( Campaign Requests) Volunteer during Season of Caring: Strengthen your team and community by participating in a fall volunteer project. ( Campaign Requests) Make the Ask: Research shows that the #1 reason people don t give to United Way is because they were never asked. Leverage incentives: Employee prizes and incentives are a way to reward employees for participating. No prize is too small. Vacation days, VIP parking and gift cards are great incentives. Don t forget the Give & Win Sweepstakes and Impact Fund Coupon Book. ( Giving Incentives) Answer questions and handle concerns: Answer questions honestly and if you don t know the answer ask your United Way representative. Ask for the pledge: With new donors, ask for a first-time gift. For annual donors, thank them for their past support and encourage an increase. Say thank you: Regardless of what the donor decides, thank them for their time. Live United All Year Long Share facts and updates: Send fun facts and stories via emails, newsletters, the intranet or a bulletin board. ( Sample Communications) Connect on social media: Advocate for United Way by posting photos of your employee volunteers in action or your special event. Say a Few Words About United Way United Way is driving lasting community change. Our focus is on Education, Income and Health the building blocks for a good quality of life. United Way recruits people and organizations who bring passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. We invite you to be a part of the change. You can give, you can advocate and you can volunteer. That s what it means to LIVE UNITED. GE Healthcare s Kickball Tournament 2013 Top 3 Themes & Events Bring Your Dog to Work Day: Add some bark to the office! Have a pet tricks competition or costume party. If allergies are a concern try Pet Match Day, have employees bring a photo of their pet to the office. Co-workers then match the pet to the owner. Kickball Tournament: Teams donate a certain amount to participate. In-game obstacles can be purchased like adding a run, requiring an opponent to kick with their non-dominant foot, subtracting a run, etc. OctoBeard: Men grow their beards until month-end when the carving begins! The style changes for a few consecutive days. Employees vote daily for their favorites: Cash = positive votes, Coins = negative votes. Find more ideas at UnitedWayMilwaukee.org/FundraisingIdeas 6 UnitedWayMilwaukee.org Plunkett Raysich Architects OctoBeard Contestant
Company Recognition Electronic Billboard When you give a corporate gift and/or run an employee workplace campaign, your company will receive a billboard thank you: Each company is featured for one week on three to five digital billboards located on major area freeways. During that week, your company s name will appear approximately 300-600 times. Value: Up to $,000 M A J E S T I C Marcus Majestic Cinema Companies with 25-500 employees that raise $2,500 new dollars for United Way of Greater Milwaukee with 50 percent employee participation will be entered to win a four-star meeting experience at the Majestic Cinema in Brookfield. Your guests (up to 90 people) will feel like stars as they re treated to complimentary food and beverages. Value: $,500 Giving Level Be recognized on our website and in the Milwaukee Business Journal for Corporate Giving, Employee Giving and Combined Recognition results if you meet specified goals. Learn more at UnitedWayMilwaukee.org/Recognition Special Thanks To our 2013 Ambassador incentive sponsors MARCUS THEATRES Ambassador Recognition United Way appreciates the assistance provided by 1,200+ ambassadors. To thank you and recognize your efforts, those who attend Ambassador Training (see page 2) and complete at least 5 of the activities below will be entered into a drawing for prizes. (In 2013, this included weekend getaway packages and retail gift certificates.) In addition, the top 50 ambassadors and their guest will be invited to the Marcus Majestic Theatre in 2015 for cocktails, a 5-star dining experience and movie premiere. Attended Ambassador Training Had a pre-campaign meeting with the Loaned Executive Invited a United Way staff member or Agency Program Partner to speak to employees Hosted a Leadership, Loyal Contributor and/or Retiree event Held a special event activity Participated in a Season of Caring project Ensured each employee received an individual ask Increased participation Increased overall dollars raised Reported results and thanked donors Winners will be announced in February 2015. UnitedWayMilwaukee.org 7
Driving Lasting Community Change Giving to United Way s Community Impact Fund is the most efficient and powerful way to invest in Greater Milwaukee. United Way invests your dollars in: strategic focus areas, opportunity fund grants, urgent need fund grants, healthy girls initiative grants and more. Together we are creating a better life for all through the Education, Income and Health strategic focus areas. Helping Children & Youth Achieve Their Potential In 2012-13, United Way invested in 6 education programs serving more than 56,000 children and their families. Our goals in Education are to increase the number of children who: Enter school ready to succeed Read proficiently by third grade Are on track to be promoted to the next grade level Display improved cognitive, social, and/or physical skills Graduate from high school on time Are prepared for success in college, work and life Promoting Financial Stability & Independence In 2012-13, United Way invested in 28 income programs serving nearly 50,000 individuals. Our goals in Income are to increase the number of adults and families who: Earn enough income to meet daily expenses and basic needs like food and housing Obtain education or training to develop skills needed to gain and maintain employment that offers a family sustaining wage Have access to culturally appropriate relocation and reunification services as immigrants or refugees Have access to high quality, free or low cost legal services Save for and build assets to invest in a home or post-secondary education Improving People s Health & Safety In 2012-13, United Way funded 62 health programs serving nearly 235,000 people. Our goals in Health are to increase the number of youth and adults who: Are healthy and safe Are able to live independently and with dignity Have access to high quality and affordable mental, behavioral, dental and general health care Have access to prevention education and can avoid risky behaviors Have a network of support for children with disabilities, their families and caregivers Have access to healthy, local, and affordable fresh fruits and vegetables Have access to high quality, affordable prenatal care and pregnancy support services 225 west Vine Street Milwaukee, WI 53212 1.263.8100 UnitedWayMilwaukee.org Special thanks to We Energies for sponsoring this guide. 7/1